Now, police to recruit more women SPOs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State home department had initiated steps in advance – without waiting for the SC order on review petitions – to control crowd at the hill shrine. In an order dated November 12, 2018, the department sanctioned creation of 250 posts for special police officers (Women) for Mandalam – Makaravilakku season, anticipating the inflow of woman devotees.
The order said that the state police chief had written to the department that police were expecting a crowd of woman devotees this pilgrimage season and therefore had requested additional force of 250 special police officers.This is in addition to the appointment of 1,500 special police officers (men).
Special police officers are civilians recruited to assist the police to compensate the shortage of manpower.
IG (admin) P Vijayan said that most special police officers would be deployed at Nilackal and Pamba. Also, many of them would be deployed in other districts where there are temporary resting places for pilgrims, he said.
“Women living in villages near Sabarimala too will be considered for the post,” Vijayan said, adding that it was for the first time police were recruiting this much women special police officers for Mandalam–Makaravilakku season.
The Save Sabarimala Forum too had fielded women among local inhabitants during their agitation against the state government.IG Manoj Abraham, who is in charge of security arrangements at Sabarimala, said the department was yet to finalize their deployment at the hill shrine.